AUSTIN — Inspired early this season by the various goofy grins they had seen their star quarterback flash in an inescapable barrage of video clips, Internet images and magazine photographs, Texas' offensive linemen took to calling Colt McCoy “McCheese.” And because nicknames, like football seasons, inevitably evolve over time, McCoy was not surprised Monday when someone greeted him by calling him “Velveeta.”

“I've had so many names,” McCoy said, laughing. “But that one is the most popular one right now.”

One thing they're not calling McCoy is “Mr. Heisman,” and he said he has come to terms with that. Although he was clearly disappointed Dec. 12 when his second trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist culminated with Alabama's Mark Ingram being announced as the winner, McCoy said it didn't take him long to move on.

Plenty of incentive

After the ceremony, UT offensive coordinator Greg Davis sent McCoy a text message telling him that he was his Heisman winner, just like Davis told Vince Young when Young lost to USC's Reggie Bush in the 2005 Heisman balloting. McCoy's reply message to Davis was almost exactly the same as Young's was four years earlier.

“Game on,” McCoy wrote.

The game McCoy was referring to — the Jan. 7 Bowl Championship Series title game against Ingram's top-ranked Crimson Tide — remains more than two weeks away. But for McCoy and the No. 2 Longhorns, no extra time was needed to re-establish their focus.

So McCoy didn't win the Heisman. So some people are still questioning whether Texas deserves to play for a national title more than TCU or Cincinnati. So the Longhorns are touchdown underdogs.

All of that is what UT coach Mack Brown calls chatter and, to his team, it doesn't matter anymore.

“I know how much more we have to play for,” McCoy said.

One criticism of UT, however, is not being blocked out by the team. The Longhorns' offense did not fare well in a 13-12 victory over Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game, leading to questions about whether a team that gave up nine sacks to the Cornhuskers can hope to compete against an Alabama defense ranked even higher.

Expect some changes

Davis acknowledged he has had some of those same concerns. And unlike in 2005, when he said UT made no adjustments to its offensive game plan in the month before beating USC for the national title, there will almost certainly be new wrinkles against the Crimson Tide.

“I think you have to look at making some changes,” Davis said. “But at the same time, we're not going to reinvent ourselves in a month.”

Although Tre' Newton is still penciled in as the starting tailback and no personnel changes are planned on the offensive line, Brown said he will not reveal a depth chart until the week of the game. Until then, starting positions are considered subject to change.

That internal competition, coupled with the external doubt about UT's chances, should give the Longhorns plenty to get fired up about. Nickel back Aaron Williams said Monday the players “use everything as motivation.”